System and Method for Providing a Content Delivery Network via a Motor Vehicle

ABSTRACT

A cache server disposed in a motor vehicle receives and caches content from a content distribution network when a load of a cellular link to the content distribution network is low. The cache server determines that the motor vehicle is turned off, broadcasts a wireless signal as part of a wireless network when the motor vehicle is turned off, and provides a device access to the content cached in the cache server via the wireless network.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to communications networks, andmore particularly relates to content delivery networks.

BACKGROUND

Packet-switched networks, such as networks based on the TCP/IP protocolsuite, can distribute a rich array of digital content to a variety ofclient applications. One popular application is a personal computerbrowser for retrieving documents over the Internet written in theHypertext Markup Language (HTML). Frequently, these documents includeembedded content. Where once the digital content consisted primarily oftext and static images, digital content has grown to include audio andvideo content as well as dynamic content customized for an individualuser.

It is often advantageous when distributing digital content across apacket-switched network to divide the duty of answering content requestsamong a plurality of geographically dispersed servers. For example,popular Web sites on the Internet often provide links to “mirror” sitesthat replicate original content at a number of geographically dispersedlocations. A more recent alternative to mirroring is contentdistribution networks (CDNs) that dynamically redirect content requeststo a cache server situated closer to the client issuing the request.CDNs either co-locate cache servers within Internet Service Providers ordeploy them within their own separate networks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,elements illustrated in the Figures have not necessarily been drawn toscale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements areexaggerated relative to other elements. Embodiments incorporatingteachings of the present disclosure are shown and described with respectto the drawings presented herein, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a communications network inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a content distribution networkthat can be used in conjunction with the communications network of FIG.1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are flow diagrams illustrating a method for providing amobile cache server within a content distribution network; and

FIG. 5 is an illustrative embodiment of a general computer system.

The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicatessimilar or identical items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The numerous innovative teachings of the present application will bedescribed with particular reference to the presently preferred exemplaryembodiments. However, it should be understood that this class ofembodiments provides only a few examples of the many advantageous usesof the innovative teachings herein. In general, statements made in thespecification of the present application do not necessarily limit any ofthe various claimed inventions. Moreover, some statements may apply tosome inventive features but not to others.

FIG. 1 shows a geographically dispersed network 100, such as theInternet. Network 100 can include routers 102, 104, and 106 thatcommunicate with each other and form an autonomous system (AS) 108. AS108 can connect to other ASs that form network 100 through peeringpoints at routers 102 and 104. Additionally, AS 108 can include clientsystems 110, 112, 114, and 116 connected to respective routers 102, 104,and 106 to access the network 100. Router 102 can provide ingress andegress for client system 110. Similarly, router 104 can provide ingressand egress for client system 112. Router 106 can provide ingress andegress for both of client systems 114 and 116.

AS 108 can further include a Domain Name System (DNS) server 118. DNSserver 118 can translate a human readable hostname, such as www.att.com,into an Internet Protocol (IP) address. For example, client system 110can send a request to resolve a hostname to DNS server 118. DNS server118 can provide client system 110 with an IP address corresponding tothe hostname. DNS server 118 may provide the IP address from a cache ofhostname-IP address pairs or may request the IP address corresponding tothe hostname from an authoritative DNS server for the domain to whichthe hostname belongs.

Client systems 110, 112, 114, and 116 can retrieve information from aserver 120. For example, client system 112 can retrieve a web pageprovided by server 120. Additionally, client system 112 may downloadcontent files, such as graphics, audio, and video content, and programfiles such as software updates, from server 120. The time required forclient system 112 to retrieve the information from the server 120normally is related to the size of the file, the distance theinformation travels, and congestion along the route. Additionally, theload on the server 120 is related to the number of client systems 110,112, 114, and 116 that are actively retrieving information from theserver 120. As such, the resources such as processor, memory, andbandwidth available to the server 120 limit the number of client systems110, 112, 114, and 116 that can simultaneously retrieve information fromthe server 120.

Additionally, the network can include cache servers 122 and 124 thatreplicate content on the server 120 and that can be located more closelywithin the network to the client systems 110, 112, 114, and 116. Cacheserver 122 can link to router 102, and cache server 124 can link torouter 106. Client systems 110, 112, 114, and 116 can be assigned cacheserver 122 or 124 to decrease the time needed to retrieve information,such as by selecting the cache server closer to the particular clientsystem. The network distance between a cache server and client systemcan be determined by network cost and access time. As such, theeffective network distance between the cache server and the clientsystem may be different from the geographic distance.

When assigning cache servers 122 and 124 to client systems 110, 112,114, and 116, the cache server closest to the client can be selected.The closest cache server may be the cache server having a shortestnetwork distance, a lowest network cost, a lowest network latency, ahighest link capacity, a lowest load, or any combination thereof. Clientsystem 110 can be assigned cache server 122, and client systems 114 and116 can be assigned to cache server 124. The network costs of assigningclient system 112 to either of cache server 122 or 124 may besubstantially identical. When the network costs associated with the linkbetween router 102 and router 104 are marginally lower than the networkcosts associated with the link between router 104 and router 106, client112 may be assigned to cache server 124.

Client system 112 may send a request for information to cache server124. If cache server 124 has the information stored in a cache, it canprovide the information to client system 112. This can decrease thedistance the information travels and reduce the time to retrieve theinformation. Alternatively, when cache server 124 does not have theinformation, it can retrieve the information from server 120 prior toproviding the information to the client system 112. In an embodiment,cache server 124 may attempt to retrieve the information from cacheserver 122 prior to retrieving the information from server 120. Thecache server 124 may retrieve the information from the server 120 onlyonce, reducing the load on server 120 and network 100 such as, forexample, when client system 114 requests the same information.

Cache server 124 can have a cache of a limited size. The addition of newcontent to the cache may require old content to be removed from thecache. The cache may utilize a least recently used (LRU) policy, a leastfrequently used (LFU) policy, or another cache policy known in the art.When the addition of relatively old or less popular content to the cachecauses relatively hot or more popular content to be removed from thecache, an additional request for the relatively hot content can increasethe time required to provide the relatively hot content to the clientsystem, such as client system 114. To maximize the cost and time savingsof providing content from the cache, the most popular content may bestored in the cache, while less popular content is retrieved from server120.

FIG. 2 shows a content distribution network 200 that can be used inconjunction with communications network 100. The content distributionnetwork 200 includes a base station 202, cache servers 204 and 206,client devices 208, 210, 212, and 214, and the content server 120 of theAS 108. The cache server 204 can be incorporated into a motor vehicle216, such that the cache server can be mounted within the motor vehicle.The cache server 204 can use an access point 218 built into the motorvehicle to create localized coverage areas 220 and 220 a, which can bemicro cells within the content distribution network 200. The cacheserver 206 can be incorporated into a motor vehicle 222, such that thecache server can be mounted within the motor vehicle. The cache server206 can use an access point 224 built into the motor vehicle to createlocalized coverage area 226, which can be a micro cell within thecontent distribution network 200.

The localized coverage areas 220 and 220 a can be wireless networkscreated by the access point 218, and the localized coverage area 226 canbe created by the access point 224. Depending on the wirelesstechnology, a micro cell can be referred to as a femtocell, or as a hotspot in case of Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) or Bluetooth technologies. Thebase station 202 is in communication with the content server 120 of AS108, with the cache server 204, and with the cache server 206. The basestation 202 is in communication with the cache servers 204 and 206 viacellular connections 228 of a cellular network 230. The cache server 204can communicate with the client devices 208 and 210 when the clientdevices are within the localized coverage area 220. The cache server 204can also communicate with the client devices 212 and 214 when the clientdevices are within the localized coverage area 220 a. The cache server206 can communicate with the client device 214 when the client device iswithin the localized coverage area 226.

The cache servers 204 and 206 can receive popular content from thecontent server 120 in the AS 108, such as news websites, commonlyaccessed songs or videos, and the like. The popular content can bedetermined based on information obtained by the content server 120, suchas a number of times that specific content is requested. The contentserver 120 can push the popular content to the cache servers 204 and 206via the cellular connection 228 of the cellular network 230 serviced bythe base station 202. The cellular connection 228 can be a cellular linkbetween the cache server 204 and the content distribution network 200.In an embodiment, the cache server 204 can receive the popular contentat night, during periods of low loads on cellular link 228, and thelike.

As the motor vehicle 216 moves around the distribution network 200, thehot spot created by the access point 218 can move from the localizedcoverage area 220 to the localized coverage area 220 a, and to any areaalong the path traveled by the motor vehicle. In an embodiment, thecache server 204 can activate the access point 218 to create thelocalized coverage area 220 when the motor vehicle is turned off, suchthat the localized coverage area is not provided while the motor vehicle216 is moving through the content distribution network 200. Thelocalized area of coverage 220 or 220 a can be a hot spot for aparticular Internet and cellular telephone service provider. That is,the client devices 208, 210, 212, and 214 associated with the particularInternet and cellular telephone service provider can detect thelocalized coverage area 220 or 220 a as a hot spot or femtocell, and canconnect to the access point 218 of the cache server 204. The localizedcoverage area 220 can encompass an outdoor coverage area or an indoorcoverage area near the motor vehicle 216, such as a parking lot, park,library, hospital, retail store, residence, and the like. For example,if the motor vehicle has stopped and has been turned off next to a park,the localized coverage area 220 may extend into the park. The size ofthe localized coverage areas 220 and 220 a can be determined at least inpart by a transmission power of the access point 218, as well as pathloss, shadowing, and the like on a wireless signal from the accesspoint.

In an embodiment, the localized coverage area 220 a of the cache server204 can overlap with the localized coverage area 226 of the cache server206, such that the cache servers can detect each other. The cacheservers 204 and 206 can then pass authentication information to eachother so that the cache servers can mutually authenticate that each ofthe cache servers are associated with the same service provider. Thecache server 204 can determine whether the cache server 206 has newcontent, which can be updates to content currently cached in the cacheserver 204, content that is different than the content currently cachedin the cache server 204, and the like. When the cache server 204determines that the cache server 206 has new content, the cache server204 can utilize the new content to increase the amount of contentavailable in the localized coverage areas 220 and 220 a.

For example, the cache server 204 can provide the client devices 208-214with access to the new content. The cache server 204 may receive the newcontent from the cache server 206, and cache the new content in a memoryof the cache server 204. Alternatively, the cache server 204 may createa look up table associating an IP address for the cache server 206 withthe new content. Thus, the cache server 204 can then either have a copyof the new content to provide to the client devices 208-214, or have thelocation of the new content stored in the look up table.

The client devices 208-214 can be multimode devices, such that theclient devices can communicate with both the base station 202 via thecellular connection 228, and with the access point 218 via a Bluetoothor WiFi signal. When the client device 208 enters the localized coveragearea 220, the client device can attempt to connect to the access point218 via transmission and reception of attachment signaling. In anembodiment, a connecting signaling from a client device can include aLocation Area Update (LAU) and/or Routing Area Update (RAU), or anyother synchronization procedure compatible with the wireless technologyof the localized coverage area 220, such as WiFi, WorldwideInteroperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), Enhanced General PacketRadio Service (Enhanced GPRS), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Ultra MobileBroadband (UMB), Zigbee, or the like.

The client device 208 can also provide authentication information tocache server 204. The authentication information can include universalsubscriber identification module ((U)SIM) based credentials or the likefor the client device 208. The cache server 204 can then utilize thecellular connection 228 and the base station 202 to send theauthentication information to an authentication server 232, which canremotely verify credentials of the client device 208. In anotherembodiment, the cache server 204 can receive and store a list ofauthentication information including the authentication information foreach client device associated with the particular Internet and cellulartelephone provider from the authentication server 232. The cache server204 can then compare the authentication information provided by theclient device 218 with the authentication information of the list ofauthentication information stored within the cache server to verify thatthe client device can connect to the access point 218.

When the client device has been authenticated and connected to theaccess point 218, the cache server 204 can receive a content requestfrom the client device. If the content request is associated with thepopular content cached in the cache server 204, the content can beprovided to the client device. Additionally, the cache server 204 canverify that the requested content has not been updated since the contentwas cached in the cache server before the cache server provides therequested content to the client device 208. If the content has beenupdated, the cache server 204 can connect to the AS 108 via the cellularconnection 228 and the base station 202 to retrieve the most recentcontent. If the cache server 204 has not cached the requested content,the cache server can connect to a content server, such as content server120, that has the content via the cellular connection 228, and canreceive the requested content. Alternatively, if the cache server 204has not cached the requested content, the cache server can utilize thelook up table and return an IP address of a cache server, such as cacheserver 206, that does have the requested content to the client device208. The cache server 204 can provide the client device 210 with popularcontent in a similar fashion as discussed for client device 208.

In an embodiment, if the client device 208 is in the process ofdownloading content from the cache server 204 and the motor vehicle 216drives away, the client device can then connect to the base station 202via the cellular connection 228 of the cellular network 230 to receivethe remainder of the content. In another embodiment, the client device214 may be utilizing the cellular connection 228 of the cellular network230 to download content when the motor vehicle 216 with the cache server204 stops near the client device 214. The motor vehicle 216 can then beturned off, and the cache server 204 can activate the access point 218to create the localized coverage area 220 a. If the client device 214 islocated within the localized coverage area 220 a, the client device candetect the coverage area as a hot spot. The client device 214 can thenconnect with the access point 218, and can switch from the cellularnetwork 230 to the localized coverage area 220 a to download theremainder of the content. Thus, the client devices 208-214 can utilizethe localized coverage areas 220 and 220 a created by the access point218 of the cache server 204 to download content instead of utilizing thecellular connection 228 of the cellular network 230.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a method 300 for providing a mobile cacheserver within a content distribution network. At block 302, popularcontent is received by the cache server from the content distributionnetwork when a load of a cellular link to the content distributionnetwork is low. The cache server can be located within a motor vehicle.In an embodiment, the motor vehicle can be a rental car, a servicevehicle of an Internet and cellular telephone service provider, or thelike. The popular content can include news websites, commonly accessedsongs, and commonly accessed videos. The popular content can be receivedvia a cellular data connection, such as the cellular link, of a cellularnetwork. At block 304, the popular content is cached in the cacheserver. A determination is made that the motor vehicle is turned off atblock 306. At block 308, a wireless signal is broadcast as part of awireless network when the motor vehicle is turned off. The wirelessnetwork can be a localized coverage area, such as a femtocell, a hotspot, or the like, from an access point of the cache server. At block310, a determination is made whether a second cache server is detected.If the second cache server is not detected, the flow continues below atblock 316.

Now referring to FIG. 4, if the second cache server is detected, thecache server and the second cache server mutually authenticate eachother at block 310. The cache server can authenticate each other bypassing authentication information to each other, and verifying theauthentication information via an authentication server or withauthentication information stored in the cache servers. At block 312, adetermination is made that the second cache server has new content. Thenew content can be updates to content already stored on the cacheserver, content that is not currently stored in the cache server, andthe like. The new content is received from the second cache server atblock 314. In another embodiment, the cache server can create a lookuptable to identify that the new content is located in the second cacheserver without receiving and storing the new content in the cacheserver.

Referring back to FIG. 3, a request to join the wireless network isreceived from a device at block 316. The device can be a smart cellulartelephone, a portable computer, a tablet computer, a personal digitalassistant, or the like. Authentication information is received from thedevice at block 318. At block 320, a determination is made whether alist of authentication information is received at the cache server. Anauthentication file including a list of authentication information foreach of a plurality of devices can be received when the load on thecellular link to the content distribution network is low. If the list ofauthentication information is received at the cache server, theauthentication information of the device is compared to the list ofauthentication information at block 322. At block 324, a determinationis made that the authentication information of the device is valid whenthe authentication information of the device matches the list ofauthentication information.

However, if the list of authentication information is not received inthe cache server, the authentication information is transmitted to anauthentication server within the content distribution network via thecellular data connection or link of the cellular network at block 326.At block 328, a notification signal indicating a verification of theauthentication information is received at the cache server via thecellular data connection or link of the cellular network. At block 330,the device is authenticated at the cache server. Access to the popularcontent cached in the cache server is provided via the wireless networkafter the device is authenticated at block 332.

FIG. 5 shows an illustrative embodiment of a general computer system500. The computer system 500 can include a set of instructions that canbe executed to cause the computer system to perform any one or more ofthe methods or computer based functions disclosed herein. The computersystem 500 may operate as a standalone device or may be connected, suchas by using a network, to other computer systems or peripheral devices.

In a networked deployment, the computer system may operate in thecapacity of a server or as a client user computer in a server-clientuser network environment, or as a peer computer system in a peer-to-peer(or distributed) network environment. The computer system 500 can alsobe implemented as or incorporated into various devices, such as apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, an STB, a personal digitalassistant (PDA), a mobile device, a palmtop computer, a laptop computer,a desktop computer, a communications device, a wireless telephone, aland-line telephone, a control system, a camera, a scanner, a facsimilemachine, a printer, a pager, a personal trusted device, a web appliance,a network router, switch or bridge, or any other machine capable ofexecuting a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specifyactions to be taken by that machine. In a particular embodiment, thecomputer system 500 can be implemented using electronic devices thatprovide voice, video or data communication. Further, while a singlecomputer system 500 is illustrated, the term “system” shall also betaken to include any collection of systems or sub-systems thatindividually or jointly execute a set, or multiple sets, of instructionsto perform one or more computer functions.

The computer system 500 may include a processor 502, such as a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or both.Moreover, the computer system 500 can include a main memory 504 and astatic memory 506 that can communicate with each other via a bus 508. Asshown, the computer system 500 may further include a video display unit510 such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emittingdiode (OLED), a flat panel display, a solid state display, or a cathoderay tube (CRT). Additionally, the computer system 500 may include aninput device 512 such as a keyboard, and a cursor control device 514such as a mouse. The computer system 500 can also include a disk driveunit 516, a signal generation device 518 such as a speaker or remotecontrol, and a network interface device 520 to communicate with anetwork 526. In a particular embodiment, the disk drive unit 516 mayinclude a computer-readable medium 522 in which one or more sets ofinstructions 524, such as software, can be embedded. Thecomputer-readable medium can be a non-transitory computer readablemedium, such as a hard disk drive, a flash memory, a read-only memory, acompact disk, a digital versatile disk, a cache, a random-access memory,and the like. Further, the instructions 524 may embody one or more ofthe methods or logic as described herein. In a particular embodiment,the instructions 524 may reside completely, or at least partially,within the main memory 504, the static memory 506, and/or within theprocessor 502 during execution by the computer system 500. The mainmemory 504 and the processor 502 also may include computer-readablemedia.

The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of the variousembodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a completedescription of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systemsthat utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many otherembodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewingthe disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from thedisclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changesmay be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure.Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational and may notbe drawn to scale. Certain proportions within the illustrations may beexaggerated, while other proportions may be minimized. Accordingly, thedisclosure and the FIGs. are to be regarded as illustrative rather thanrestrictive.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R.§1.72(b) and is submitted with the understanding that it will not beused to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Inaddition, in the foregoing Detailed Description of the Drawings, variousfeatures may be grouped together or described in a single embodiment forthe purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to beinterpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodimentsrequire more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather,as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may bedirected to less than all of the features of any of the disclosedembodiments. Thus, the following claims are incorporated into theDetailed Description of the Drawings, with each claim standing on itsown as defining separately claimed subject matter.

The above disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, andnot restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications, enhancements, and other embodiments which fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the present disclosed subject matter. Thus, tothe maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present disclosedsubject matter is to be determined by the broadest permissibleinterpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shallnot be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.

1. A cache server disposed in a motor vehicle, the cache servercomprising: a memory configured to store a set of instructions; and aprocessor in communication with the memory, the processor configured toexecute the set of instructions, that cause the processor to: receivecontent from a content distribution network when a load of a cellularlink to the content distribution network is low; cache the content inthe cache server; determine that the motor vehicle is turned off;broadcast a wireless signal as part of a wireless network when the motorvehicle is turned off; receive, from a device, a request to join thewireless network; receive authentication information from the device;authenticate the device at the cache server; and provide access to thecontent cached in the cache server via the wireless network after thedevice is authenticated.
 2. The cache server of claim 1, whereinauthenticating the device further causes the processor to: transmit theauthentication information to an authentication server within thecontent distribution network via a cellular data connection of acellular network; and receive a notification signal indicating averification of the authentication information via the cellular dataconnection of the cellular network.
 3. The cache server of claim 1,wherein the instructions further cause the processor to: receive anauthentication file including a list of authentication information foreach of a plurality of devices when the load on the cellular link islow.
 4. The cache server of claim 3, wherein authenticating the devicefurther causes the processor to: compare the authentication informationof the device to the list of authentication information; and determinethat the authentication information of the device is valid when theauthentication information of the device matches the list ofauthentication information.
 5. The cache server of claim 1, wherein thecontent is received via the cellular link to the content distributionnetwork.
 6. The cache server of claim 1, wherein the content is selectedfrom a group consisting of news websites, commonly accessed songs, andcommonly accessed videos.
 7. The cache server of claim 1, wherein thedevice is selected from a group consisting of a smart cellulartelephone, a portable computer, a tablet computer, and a personaldigital assistant.
 8. A method of providing content from a first cacheserver disposed in a motor vehicle, the method comprising: receiving, atthe first cache server, content from a content distribution network whena load of a cellular link to the content distribution network is low;caching the content in the first cache server; determining that themotor vehicle is turned off; broadcasting, from the first cache server,a wireless signal as part of a wireless network when the motor vehicleis turned off; receiving, from a device, a request to join the wirelessnetwork; receiving authentication information from the device;authenticating the device at the first cache server; and providingaccess to the content cached in the first cache server via the wirelessnetwork after the device is authenticated.
 9. The method of claim 8,wherein authenticating the device comprises: transmitting theauthentication information to an authentication server within thecontent distribution network via a cellular data connection of acellular network; and receiving a notification signal indicating averification of the authentication information via the cellular dataconnection of the cellular network.
 10. The method of claim 8, furthercomprising: receiving an authentication file including a list ofauthentication information for each of a plurality of devices when theload on the cellular link is low.
 11. The method of claim 10, whereinauthenticating the device further comprises: comparing theauthentication information of the device to the list of authenticationinformation; and determining that the authentication information of thedevice is valid when the authentication information of the devicematches the list of authentication information.
 12. The method of claim8, wherein the content is received via the cellular link to the contentdistribution network.
 13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:detecting a second cache server within the wireless network;authenticating the second cache server; determining that the secondcache server has new content; and receiving, at the first cache server,the new content.
 14. The method of claim 8, wherein the new content isselected from a group consisting of an update to the content in thefirst cache server and different content than the content in the firstcache server.
 15. A tangible computer readable medium comprising aplurality of instructions to manipulate a processor, the plurality ofinstructions comprising: instructions to receive, at a cache server,content from a content distribution network when a load of a cellularlink to the content distribution network is low, wherein the cacheserver is disposed in a motor vehicle; instructions to determine thatthe motor vehicle is turned off; instructions to broadcast, from thecache server, a wireless signal as part of a wireless network when themotor vehicle is turned off; instructions to receive, from a device, arequest to join the wireless network; instructions to receiveauthentication information from the device; instructions to authenticatethe device at the cache server; and instructions to provide access tothe content via the wireless network after the device is authenticated.16. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 15, whereinauthenticating the device further comprises: instructions to transmitthe authentication information to an authentication server within thecontent distribution network via a cellular data connection of acellular network; and instructions to receive a notification signalindicating a verification of the authentication information via thecellular data connection of the cellular network.
 17. The tangiblecomputer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising: instructionsto receive an authentication file including a list of authenticationinformation for each of a plurality of devices when the load on thecellular link is low.
 18. The tangible computer readable medium of claim17, wherein authenticating the device further comprises: instructions tocompare the authentication information of the device to the list ofauthentication information; and instructions to determine that theauthentication information of the device is valid when theauthentication information of the device matches the list ofauthentication information.
 19. The tangible computer readable medium ofclaim 15, further comprising: instructions to cache the content in thecache server.
 20. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 15,wherein the content is selected from a group consisting of newswebsites, commonly accessed songs, and commonly accessed videos.